Phillies release RHP Benson

CHICAGO (TICKER) —Kris Benson hasn’t pitched in the major leagues since 2006. Chances are that won’t change in 2008.

According to a report on the team’s web site, the Philadelphia Phillies released the veteran righthander from Class AAA Lehigh Valley on Saturday. Benson was attempting to come back from a torn rotator cuff that left him sidelined for the entire 2007 season.

Signed by the Phillies as a free agent in February, Benson has seen time in Class A Clearwater and Lehigh Valley, but he was not successful. Benson was a combined 1-6 between the two clubs with a 5.78 ERA.

The first overall pick of the 1996 draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 6-4, 205-pound Benson never lived up to his potential. After erratic but promising seasons in 1999 and 2000, he underwent “Tommy John” surgery that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2001 campaign. He hasn’t regained any form since as he has bounced around between the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles and Phillies.

His best season came in 2000, when he went 10-12 with a respectable 3.85 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 217 2/3 innings.